UNESCO and UNICEF commemorate the 25th Anniversary of International Mother Language Day: Strengthening Multilingual Education for a Sustainable Future

Dili, Timor-Leste, 21 February 2025 - UNESCO and UNICEF jointly reaffirmed their commitment to promoting linguistic diversity and integrating mother tongues into the education systems in Timor-Leste. This year celebrations spotlighted the critical role of multilingual education in fostering inclusion, improving learning outcomes, and preserving cultural heritage.  In a country where over 20 local languages are spoken alongside the official languages, Tetun and Portuguese, many children face significant barriers to learning. More than 70 percent of children in Timor-Leste enter school without fluency in these official languages, often struggling to understand lessons and impacting their ability to succeed in school.

To bridge this gap, the EMULI (Edukasaun Multilinge) initiative, led by the Ministry of Education with support from UNESCO and UNICEF, has been transforming education in Timor-Leste. Since 2012, EMULI has trained teachers and provided schools with the tools needed to implement mother tongue-based instruction in preschool and primary education, with a gradual transition to Tetun. Implemented in ten schools across three municipalities, EMULI has significantly improved literacy and retention rates, demonstrating how multilingual education can create lasting change.

Building on EMULI's success, this year's International Mother Language Day celebration in Timor-Leste showcased the program's tangible impact on education and cultural preservation. The event brought together local leaders, educators, parents, and students to celebrate Timor-Leste’s rich cultural diversity and the impact of mother tongue education. Through community dialogues, cultural performances, and workshops, participants explored how multilingual education can enhance learning outcomes, preserve heritage languages, and build a more inclusive society. The celebration highlighted the tangible results of the EMULI program and advocated for broader adoption of multilingual education nationwide.

Reflecting on this success, Ms. Maki Katsuno-Hayashikawa, UNESCO Regional Office Director, emphasized the broader vision of multilingual education "Languages are a gateway to learning, culture, and identity. Together, we can build a future where language is not a barrier but a bridge to knowledge, identity, and unity," she said.

"By investing in multilingual education, we ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn in a language they understand, creating a more inclusive and equitable education system," said Patrizia DiGiovanni, UNICEF Representative.

UNESCO and UNICEF call on policymakers, educators, and communities to enhance support for multilingual education, develop inclusive policies, invest in learning resources and teacher training, and preserve Timor-Leste’s rich linguistic heritage through education and cultural initiative. By embracing linguistic diversity, Timor-Leste is building a future where every child can thrive, regardless of the language they speak.

For more information, please contact:
UNESCO: 
Aisyah Camila Agusty, UNESCO Communication Officer, +62817456770, [email protected] 
 

UNICEF: 
• Tapuwa Mutseyekwa, UNICEF Advocacy and Communication Specialist, Mobile number - +670 77231103; Email Address – [email protected]  
• Antonio Gomes, UNICEF Communications Officer, Mobile number - +670 77232441; Email address - [email protected] 

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Tetun:

UNESCO no UNICEF komemora Aniversáriu Loron Internasionál Lian Inan nian ba dala 25: Hametin Edukasaun Multilinge ba Futuru Sustentável

Dili, Timor-Leste, 21 February 2025 - UNESCO no UNICEF reafirma hamutuk sira-nia kompromisu atu promove diversidade linguístika no integra lian-inan sira iha sistema edukasaun sira iha Timor-Leste. Tinan ida-ne'e selebrasaun sira destaka papél krítiku edukasaun lian oioin nian hodi haburas inkluzaun, hadi'a rezultadu aprendizajen sira, no prezerva patrimóniu kulturál. Iha nasaun ida ne’ebé ko’alia lian lokál liu 20 hamutuk ho lian ofisiál sira, Tetun no Portugés, labarik barak hasoru barreira signifikativa atu aprende. Liu porsentu 70 hosi labarik sira iha Timor-Leste tama eskola lahó fluénsia iha lian ofisiál sira-ne’e, dala barak sira luta atu komprende lisaun sira no fó impaktu ba sira-nia abilidade atu hetan susesu iha eskola.

Atu taka lakuna ida-ne’e, inisiativa EMULI (Edukasaun Multilinge), ne’ebé lidera hosi Ministériu Edukasaun ho apoiu hosi UNESCO no UNICEF, durante ne’e transforma edukasaun iha Timor-Leste. Hahú husi tinan 2012, EMULI fó ona formasaun ba profesór sira no fornese ba eskola sira instrumentu sira ne’ebé presiza atu implementa instrusaun bazeia ba lia-inan iha ensinu pré-eskolár no ensinu primáriu, ho tranzisaun graduál ba Tetun. Implementa iha eskola sanulu iha munisípiu tolu nia laran, EMULI hadi’a ona signifikativamente taxa alfabetizasaun no retensaun, hatudu oinsá edukasaun lian oioin bele kria mudansa ne’ebé dura.

Harii iha EMULI nia susesu, selebrasaun Loron Internasionál Lian Inan tinan ida-ne’e nian iha Timor-Leste hatudu programa ne’e nia impaktu tanjível ba edukasaun no prezervasaun kulturál. Eventu ne’e halibur lider lokál, edukadór, inan-aman, no estudante sira hodi selebra Timor-Leste nia diversidade kulturál ne’ebé riku no impaktu husi edukasaun lian-inan. Liuhusi diálogu komunitáriu sira, atuasaun kulturál sira, no kolokiu sira, partisipante sira esplora oinsá edukasaun lian oioin bele hadi'a rezultadu aprendizajen nian, prezerva lian patrimóniu sira, no harii sosiedade ida ne'ebé inkluzivu liu. Selebrasaun ne’e destaka rezultadu tanjível sira hosi programa EMULI no defende adosaun luan liu hosi edukasaun lian oioin iha nasaun tomak.

Refleta kona-ba susesu ida-ne'e, Sra. Maki Katsuno-Hayashikawa, Diretora Eskritóriu Rejionál UNESCO nian, subliña vizaun luan liu kona-ba edukasaun lian oioin "Lian sira maka odamatan ida ba aprendizajen, kultura, no identidade. Hamutuk, ita bele harii futuru ida iha ne'ebé lian la'ós barreira ida maibé ponte ida ba koñesimentu, identidade no unidade," nia hatete.

"Hodi investe ba lian oioin iha edukasaun, ami garante katak labarik ida-idak iha oportunidade atu aprende iha lian ida ne'ebé sira komprende, hodi kria sistema edukasaun ida ne'ebé inkluzivu no ekuitativu liu", dehan Patrizia DiGiovanni, reprezentante UNICEF.

UNESCO no UNICEF bolu ema sira ne’ebé halo polítika, edukadór sira, no komunidade sira atu fó apoiu ba edukasaun lian oioin, dezenvolve polítika inkluzivu, investe iha rekursu aprendizajen no formasaun profesór sira, no prezerva patrimóniu linguístiku riku Timor-Leste nian liuhosi edukasaun no inisiativa kulturál. Hodi hakuak diversidade linguístika, Timor-Leste harii futuru ida iha-ne’ebé labarik ida-idak bele buras, la haree ba lian ne’ebé sira ko’alia.

Ba informasaun detallu, bele kontaktu:
UNESCO: 
Aisyah Camila Agusty, UNESCO Communication Officer, +62817456770, [email protected]

UNICEF: 
• Tapuwa Mutseyekwa, UNICEF Advocacy and Communication Specialist, Mobile number - +670 77231103; Email Address – [email protected]  
• Antonio Gomes, UNICEF Communications Officer, Mobile number - +670 77232441; Email address - [email protected]